Crop diseases and pests

Controlling plant pests

Plant diseases and pests can ruin your crops. Learn what you can do to prevent damage.

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Plant Diagnostic Clinic

Identifies and provides management solutions for insects, diseases and weeds.

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Events

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Cool Season and Warm Season Forage Options for Pastures - Marshfield

Event date: June 5, 2023

Event time: | 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Marshfield, MO

As we are coming out of the drought of 2022, we being to look at what forages survived as well as which did not and what we might be looking at for the reestablishment of our grazing systems in the near future. Join us as we look at the most common ...

Private Pesticide Applicator Training - Buchanan County

Event date: June 6, 2023

Event time: | 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm

St Joseph, MO

If you engage in the application of a restricted-use pesticide for the purposes of producing an agricultural commodity on property you or your employer owns or rents without compensation other than trading of personal services between producers of ...

Cool Season and Warm Season Forage Options for Pastures - Lebanon

Event date: June 8, 2023

Event time: | 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Lebanon, MO

Native Warm Season Grass Workshop

Event date: June 9, 2023

Event time: | 8:00 am - 1:00 pm

Davisville, MO

This is an interactive workshop that has hands on components for participants. If you are thinking about incorporating Native warm season grass into your Grazing operation and want to see it in action, plan on attending.Starting off the morning with ...

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News & articles

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MU Pest Management Field Day is July 6

Published: Thursday, June 1, 2023

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The annual Mizzou Pest Management Field Day will be Thursday, July 6, at the University of Missouri Bradford Research Farm near Columbia.Registration begins at 8 a.m., and MU Extension state weed scientist Kevin Bradley delivers ...

Time to scout for ergot

Published: Tuesday, May 9, 2023

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts says now is the time to check for ergot in the seed heads of grasses.Ergot can cause severe illness in livestock, especially cattle and horses. One early sign is ...

Missouri 4-H, MU Extension to host crop event for 4-H, FFA members

Published: Thursday, April 13, 2023

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension and Missouri 4-H will host a crop scouting event for 4-H and FFA members and volunteers July 18 at MU Bradford Research Farm near Columbia.Participants will learn about common Missouri crops, ...

MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic offers free wheat virus tests

Published: Wednesday, March 8, 2023

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Plant Diagnostic Clinic will offer free screening for five wheat viruses this spring.A partnership of MU Extension’s Integrated Pest Management and Field Crop Pathology programs allows the clinic to ...

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Publications

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Restricted-Use Pesticide Record-Keeping Form

Publication date: April 1, 2023

This Restricted-Use Pesticide Record-Keeping Form is for use with MP692, USDA Pesticide Record-Keeping Requirements for Certified Private Applicators of Federally Restricted-Use Pesticides. The revised form includes places to note information ...

Cotton Seedling Diseases: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Publication date: Feb. 10, 2023

Reviewed by Bradley WilsonDivision of Plant SciencesWhat are cotton seedling diseases and what causes them?Several different, normally harmless, microscopic organisms that live on organic matter in the soil can attack cotton seedling roots in the ...

Pecan Pest Management: Insects and Diseases

Publication date: Oct. 26, 2022

Reviewed by Peng TianAssistant Professor, Plant SciencesReviewed by Manoj ChhetriDepartment of HorticultureGeorge S. Smith and Maureen H. O'DayDepartment of EntomologyWilliam ReidKansas State UniversityPecans have been grown for commercial production ...

Seedcorn Maggot

Publication date: July 18, 2022

Reviewed by Kevin RiceDepartment of Plant SciencesMichael L. Boyd and Wayne C. BaileyState Extension Entomology SpecialistsThe seedcorn maggot, Delia platura (Meigen), is an occasional pest of agronomic crops in Missouri. This insect is widely ...

European Corn Borer: A Multiple-Crop Pest in Missouri

Publication date: July 18, 2022

Revised by Kevin RiceDepartment of Plant SciencesThe European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) was first observed in the United States near Boston in 1917, and by the 1940s it had migrated into Missouri.Description and life cycleThis insect ...

Southwestern Corn Borer Management in Missouri

Publication date: July 18, 2022

Revised by Kevin RiceDepartment of Plant SciencesThe Diatraea grandiosella Dyar, is a pest of corn, Zea mays (Linné).Description and life cycleThis insect overwinters as a full-grown larva at the base of the corn stalk. The dull white moths with ...

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Resources

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ID Weeds app (App Store)

ID Weeds allows you to search for weeds by their common or Latin name, view a list of weeds, or identify weeds based on characteristics. It presents weed details and photos. By the MU Division of Plant Sciences, this is the iPhone and iPad version.

ID Weeds app (Google Play)

Herbicide Injury ID app (App Store)

Herbicide Injury ID aids in the diagnosis of herbicide injury. Search by visible plant symptoms, herbicide trade names, active ingredients, or herbicide site-of-action numbers. By MU Extension Weed Science, this is the iPhone and iPad version.

Herbicide Injury ID app (Google Play)

Integrated Pest and Crop Management newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest news and information with the Integrated Pest and Crop Management newsletter.

Pesticide Applicator Searches

Search for a certified pesticide applicator in your area using this tool from the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

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